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CITY OF ELK RIVER, MINNESOTA <br />NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS <br />DECEMBER 31, 2011 <br />Note 4: OTHER INFORMATION — CONTINUED <br />C. Territorial Acquisition Agreement <br />The Utilities has entered into an agreement to transfer ownership of electric plant and electric service to customers in <br />certain areas currently receiving electric service from Connexus Energy. <br />The cost of property purchased from Connexus Energy will be net book value. The Utilities will also pay for loss of <br />revenue for each area acquired based on a formula outlined in the agreement. <br />In addition, the Utilities will compensate Connexus Energy for the loss of revenue from the future sale of electricity to <br />electric customers in the areas acquired from Connexus Energy for a period of ten years from the date of sale of each <br />individual area. <br />During 2010, the Utilities paid $102,555 for the final purchase under this agreement. The Utilities also paid $8,114 in <br />2011 and $8,107 in 2010 for loss of revenues. All amounts paid are included in property and equipment. <br />D. Pension Plans <br />1. Public Employees Retirement Association <br />a. Plan Description <br />All full -time and certain part-time employees of the City of Elk River are covered by defined benefit pension <br />plans administered by the Public Employees Retirement Association of Minnesota (PERA). PERA administers <br />the General Employees Retirement Fund (GERF) and the Public Employees Police and Fire Fund (PEPFF) <br />which are cost - sharing, multiple- employer retirement plans. These plans are established and administered in <br />accordance with Minnesota Statutes, Chapters 353 and 356. <br />GERF members belong to either the Coordinated Plan or the Basic Plan. Coordinated Plan members are <br />covered by Social Security and Basic Plan members are not. All new members must participate in the <br />Coordinated Plan. All police officers, fire fighters and peace officers who qualify for membership by statute are <br />covered by the PEPFF. <br />PERA provides retirement benefits as well as disability benefits to members, and benefits to survivors upon <br />death of eligible members. Benefits are established by state statute, and vest after three years of credited <br />service. The defined retirement benefits are based on a member's highest average salary for any five successive <br />years of allowable service, age, and years of credit at termination of service. <br />Two methods are used to compute benefits for PERA's Coordinated and Basic Plan members. The retiring <br />member receives the higher of a step -rate benefit accrual formula (Method 1) or a level accrual formula <br />(Method 2). Under Method 1, the annuity accrual rate for a Basic Plan member is 2.2 percent of average salary <br />for each of the first 10 years of service and 2.7 percent for each remaining year. The annuity accrual rate for a <br />Coordinated Plan member is 1.2 percent of average salary for each of the first 10 years and 1.7 percent for each <br />remaining year, Under Method 2, the annuity accrual rate is 2.7 percent of average salary for Basic Plan <br />members and 1.7 percent for Coordinated Plan members for each year of service. For PEPFF members, the <br />annuity accrual rate is 3.0 percent for each year of service. For all PEPFF and GERF members hired prior to <br />July 1, 1989 whose annuity is calculated using Method 1, a full annuity is available when age plus years of <br />service equal 90. Normal retirement age is 55 for PEPFF members and 65 for Basic and Coordinated members <br />hired prior to July 1, 1989. Normal retirement age is the age for unreduced Social Security benefits capped at <br />66 for Coordinated members hired on or after July 1, 1989, A reduced retirement annuity is also available to <br />eligible members seeking early retirement. <br />57 <br />